Valuing water means recognizing and considering all the benefits provided by water – including economic, social and ecological dimensions. In realizing these benefits, there is significant potential to trigger systemic change, with water valuation driving decision-making that protects freshwater sources and ensuring water allocation reaches its most productive, equitable and environmentally sustainable use and consumption.
By not fully valuing water, we jeopardize public health, ecological integrity, and economic development. In valuing water, we need to understand the multiple benefits it brings and the way in which various stakeholders impact and depend on water. For decades, across all regions the under-valuation of water has led to shortages, pollution and inequitable access.
Valuing water helps businesses understand their water impacts and dependencies, eventually informing their water stewardship approaches and leading to the internalization of water-related externalities. Businesses must value water to ensure business continuity, safeguard against future shocks and maintain their social license to operate.
There are many dimensions to valuing water, which we have captured through our collection of case studies that look at how business, from across different sectors, incorporate valuing water into decision making. Agricultural water use represents approximately 70% of all water withdrawals globally. Measuring and valuing the water-related impacts generated across the food system can help companies to pinpoint where action is most needed and communicate their true value creation and performance. Inspired by the True Value of Food initiative, we are developing a water impact protocol to encourage more consistent water-related impact valuation approaches by business.
We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By choosing to continue, you agree to our use of cookies. You can learn more about cookies on our privacy policy page.


Sara Kyle, PhD
Founder & Principle
Healthcare, Entrepreneur Orlando, FL, USA Listen to Sara’s Podcast!
Sara Kyle, Ph.D. is the Founder and Principle for LE3 Solutions, and has spent the last 13 years researching, designing, writing, and implementing resident well-being programs across the continuum of care. From leading and overseeing programming across 108 skilled nursing, assisted living and memory care communities to overseeing the charge for Holiday Retirement to transform their resident program in 260 communities, Sara thrives in challenging settings.
She is relentless when it comes to urging individual point solutions to integrate and share resident data in one location. While best intentions and knowledge at the corporate level craft well-suited programs, the most effective programs originate from research and collaboration with residents, staff, families, and future prospects. When staff and residents are involved in creating a program or approach; interest, adoption and sustainability are remarkably higher. Successful programming is not just about a satisfaction score, rather quality of life beyond the basics of food, shelter and an expected level of care. If data collection is aimed to note participation of categorized activities, this is only one piece of the puzzle behind effectively measuring engagement.
Sara is widely known and respected in the industry. She presents at national conferences, pens articles in notable publications, and serves on various advisory boards.


In a co-signed letter, the U.S. Ethanol Coalition, along with the Great Plains Institute, the Low Carbon Fuels Coalition, the National Biodiesel Board and the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association, have recommended that the California Air Resources Board recognize the climate benefits of agricultural practices in the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard. CAOT Board Member Ron Alverson submitted separately comments to CARB in response to requests for land-use change information.
Alverson draws CARB’s attention to the recent research paper “Biofuel Impacts of Food Prices Index and Land Use Change”, which he says shows “there is land use change related to land use change soil from biofuel feedstock, and that’s a positive, not a negative.” Alverson also explains how the food price index has the highest correlation with the price of crude oil, not biofuel. highlighted the discrepancies between model predictions and observed data, Alverson urges CARB to revise its assumptions predicting the impact of biofuels on food prices and indirect land use change.
This feedback complements the letter co-signed by the CAE, which provides principles for carbon intensity (CI) accounting at the farm level, originally developed under the job from the Midwestern Clean Fuels Initiative.
“…CARB would play a leadership role in promoting carbon-smart farming practices in all locations that grow feedstock for LCFS fuel pathways, accumulate knowledge on the short- and long-term effectiveness of various SCS [soil carbon sequestration] strategies and accelerate the achievement of California’s aggressive decarbonization goals,” the letter read.
Quantifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for biofuel feedstocks from agricultural practices and assigning corresponding CI scores leads to major policy benefits, including:
Compensate farmers, on a purely voluntary basis, for climate-smart agricultural practices; and Help achieve scale faster and deliver significant short-term GHG emission reductions compared to private programs with less attractive carbon prices for farmers.
The guiding principles outlined in the group letter to achieve these and other benefits include:
On-farm conservation measures should be voluntary, not mandatory. Continuous improvements in climate-smart agricultural practices should be encouraged. Protocol design must strike a balance between accuracy and cost to farmers and growers. CARB should develop practice verification strategies that minimize costs where possible while ensuring results. GHG lifecycle assessment, including assessment of climate-smart scoping practices, should be non-proprietary, transparent, verifiable, and replicable.
Stakeholders are actively leveraging USDA funds to establish a quantification and verification protocol that could support CARB’s inclusion of on-farm carbon benefits. Comments quote Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) led by ACE in South Dakota, and broader efforts to replicate the program design to increase the scientific robustness of key soil models in various regions that could be used to access LCFS markets.


If you want your people to produce and grow you need to meet them where they are, not where you wish they were, or where you want them to be. Not meeting someone where they are will immediately trigger their defensive mechanisms and make the process more difficult than necessary.
So there you go, meet people where they are and provide the path you’d like to see them on. This is good leadership. Just be aware that some have no intention of going down the path of professionalism, productivity and growth; subsequently, meet them where they are, but don’t stay too long.
While bringing people to the next level, those who are resistant may become a time drain. Worse yet you can one day realize you’ve lowered your overall expectations based on their positioning. My advice to you in such a situation is the obvious, don’t do that.


Peer mental health support holds great promise for colleges and universities for many reasons, including the fact that students often choose to turn to their peers first when in distress. However, the practice is not without risk and much work remains to ensure that it is safe and effective. This 90-minute webinar, hosted by the Mary Christie Institute and the Ruderman Family Foundation, explored how these programs have evolved over the years, how they are currently being used on campuses, and experts’ views on necessary steps to codify and strengthen the practice. The webinar includes a brief presentation highlighting key points from a new white paper on the practice of peer support, followed by two fireside chat-style discussions with experts.
Webinar video Presentation Deck Peer Programs in College Student Mental Health white paper Quadcast Episode: Peer Programs in College Student Mental Health (Part 1 of a special series on peer support)


Abstract
Background: Nutritional biomarkers are alternatives to traditional dietary assessment tools. We sought to develop a method for nutritional analysis of resveratrol, a phenolic compound with purported health-promoting properties, and to determine all resveratrol metabolites. Methods: We obtained LDL and urine samples from 11 healthy male volunteers who had consumed 250 mL of Merlot red wine. We measured resveratrol and its metabolites with 96-well solid-phase extraction plates coupled with HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry. Hexestrol was used as the internal standard. Gradient chromatography in multiple reaction monitoring mode was performed on a Luna C
18 column, maintained at 40°C; mlz transitions were as follows: resveratrol, 227/185; resveratrol glucosides, 389/227; resveratrol glucuronides, 403/ 227; resveratrol sulfates, 307/227; taxifolin, 303/285; and hexestrol, 269/134. Results: Standard calibration curves were linear at 4.4-3289.5 nmol/L. Residual analyses were 100% (3.2) for trans-resveratrol and 100% (11.1) for trans-piceid. In both matrices, imprecision (CV) was ASJC Scopus subject areas Clinical Biochemistry


Inflation. A word no one likes, but it is something that is currently impacting nearly every facet of our lives. Gas prices continue to rise, grocery costs are through the roof, and everyday living expenses are taking more hard-earned money from our country’s workers than ever before. However, consumers are not the only ones feeling the effects. Costs and expenses of running a business have increased dramatically as well, and those in the federal contracting world are no exception. Questions from both contractors and contracting officers (CO) prompted the Department of Defense (DOD) release new guidance on May 25, 2022, conveying how it plans to handle inflation through economic price adjustments (EPA) as well as when the use of EPAs is appropriate. However, the guidance also discourages flexibility for increased costs based on inflation. Learn more here: https://smallgovcon.com/uncategorized/department-of-defense-unveils-plan-to-address-effects-of-inflation-on-contracts/


Hydraulic Fracturing, more commonly known as fracking, is a somewhat controversial and often misunderstood process of accessing natural gasses. Understanding the pros and cons of fracking is important. You must know what it is, how it works, and its potential risks and benefits. What is Fracking? First, you need to understand what fracking is. According to …


courtyards in peruvian houses
Courtyards, characterized as outdoor areas within the confines of a home or building, have always served as a way of creating a bond between a structure’s indoor and outdoor spaces without sacrificing the privacy of the inhabitants.
Courtyards serve a variety of purposes, providing not only outdoor space for a structure’s users, but also connecting the other spaces within the structure, and improving its mobility and circulation.


Ethiopia has tremendous agricultural development potential. Despite the availability of abundant land and water resources, newly constructed Small-Scale Irrigation (SSI) schemes suffer from low output and abandonment, mainly due to excessive sedimentation. The latter increases the maintenance burden, drawing on users’ ability to mobilise labour or funds This study focuses on a multi-disciplinary approach to overcome the sedimentation related problems, by unearthing key factors which influence farmers’ willingness to maintain SSI schemes, and modelling an optimum operational plan for both case study schemes, which helps reduce sediment deposition.
readmore
We provide a disciplinary and multidisciplinary research programme aimed at advanced understanding of environmental problems and advanced training of PhD candidates in this field.


Medicare and Medicaid regularize a standardized procedure that enables medical healthcare providers to support healthcare. The delivery of medical services, invoicing and insurance, and nearly every area of healthcare is monitored by CMS. Medical billing professionals at all levels can use codes and modifiers to make the procedure smooth and consistent. GV and Modifier GW are HCPCS Level II Medicare Hospice Modifiers. Here is all the information you need to know about them, including what distinguishes GV from GW modifiers.
Hospice Modifiers and their Integration
Critically ill patients and those with the least mobility get supportive and palliative care in hospice settings. The providers must submit a bill to the hospice contractor in order to receive payment for the services provided to these terminally ill patients at the hospice healthcare facilities. These medical professionals are paid, hired, or affiliated with a hospice.
However, if the accompanying physician provides healthcare services to patients without being enrolled in the Hospice program, payment claims for such services will be sent to Medicare. To ensure that distinct payments will be received, these claims will be submitted along with the GV and GW modifier hospice.
GV Modifier for Hospice
When a patient is treated in hospice care but the doctor participating in the patient’s treatment is not employed by hospice, the GV modifier is added to the claims. This implies that if a patient is admitted to Hospice and the accompanying physician is not a Hospice employee, they will still get payment from Medicare for the hospice-related services provided to the patient. The GV modifier must be included to guarantee accurate and timely payments.
GW Modifier for Hospice
The GW implies that the service was not authorized because of the patient’s terminal illness. This implies that the provider must include the modifier GW to the CPT-10 code when submitting their claims to Medicare. This is essential when a patient is admitted to the Hospice, the attending physician is not a member of the Hospice, and the patient receives treatments unrelated to the primary reason for his admission.
If the patient has chosen hospice care, but the provider is not treating the terminal illness, it will imply regular Medicare payment. This is indicated by condition code 07 (Treatment of Non-terminal Condition for Hospice Code). Condition code 07 will let the payers know that the provider hasn’t provided any hospice service.
Some Guidelines to use Hospice Modifiers 1- When the accompanying physician works for the hospice provider, the GW should not be added to the CPT. Since the Hospice contractor will submit such claims for payment. 2- Only include the modifier GW when the hospice beneficiary is receiving services from an attending physician who is not a hospice employee and who is not treating the patient’s terminal illness. 3- If the attending physician works for the hospice program, do not include the GV modifier. Since the Hospice contractor will submit such claims for payment. 4- When the physician performing the services is not an employee of the hospice provider and is not listed by the patient as his or her attending physician, do not include the GV modifier.


Wikipedia defines ‘Culture’ as the “patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activities significance and importance.” Why is it that in recent times the rate of addiction with drug, alcohol and nicotine use has increased exponentially? Even though the same law with respect to underage abuse is enforced across countries, over 90% of those suffering from an addiction began drinking, smoking or using illicit drugs before the age of 18. Drug or alcohol users often seek out people with habits and behaviors like their own. These relationships foster into small groups that nurture extended periods of abuse. Soon these small groups combine to form a large network of an organized culture that share common experiences of addiction. They promote the rituals of abuse and encourage a culture of addiction. These networks have today transformed into boundless movements on social media and the internet promoting illicit drug, alcohol or nicotine abuse. While the culture of addiction may not have necessarily instigated a person’s dependence, it certainly is helping sustain and reassure destructive habits. By interaction with other addicted individuals, the person can justify their own addictions as being common or no worse than anybody else’s. It is often observed that recovering addicts slip back into past habits due to interaction with destructive associations. The road to recovery is often challenging but it is vital that a former addict deliberately distance himself from any social or personal relationships that encourage or promote illicit drug, alcohol or nicotine use. Treatment and detox cannot provide an alternative to a person’s identity or replace self-esteem. Ignoring widespread stigmas and consciously participating in constructive groups of wholesome individuals can be essential to maintaining a balanced recovery. “The key is to ensure that the company you keep uplifts you, benefits you and whose presence calls forth your best.” - Epictetus Written By: Vidhi Vohra


Affordable housing is fundamental to our quality of life. All New Zealanders should have secure, warm, dry, energy-efficient housing. No questions.
Key fact:
If State housing is available to all those who need it, over 16, 000 more households will be in warm, dry and secure homes. (Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Public Housing Monthly Dashboard March 2020)


August 2, 2022
Do you have thoughts about starting a blog? Or maybe you've already started one and are looking to improve your blog posts.
Blogging can be an enriching career, both financially and personally. As a blogger, you have the opportunity to not only share your unique voice and perspective with the world but also earn a high income by monetizing it.
However, a few blogging mistakes can make you look like a complete novice. These can range from small things like not proofreading your posts to more serious offenses like plagiarism. It can result in embarrassing typos or even factual errors.
There's nothing wrong with making a few mistakes when you start as a blogger. However, avoiding these common pitfalls will help you be more polished and professional.
We've covered nine rookie mistakes that could make you look like a complete novice.
Grammatical errors, factual inaccuracies, and typos can make your content look unprofessional and turn off your readers.
If you don't proofread your content before publishing, you're likely to miss out on correcting embarrassing mistakes that could damage your credibility.
Taking the time to proofread your work before you hit publish will help ensure that your content is error-free and help you build a more professional online presence.
When proofreading a blog, it's important to check for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors to ensure the content is clear and concise.
If you're going to blog about something you read, give credit to your sources. It's good blogging etiquette and shows that you're willing to do your research.
In online publishing, not crediting the sources of images or content pieces is a big no-no. It's not only plagiarism but can also lead to legal trouble if the image is copyrighted. Always credit the source of any images you use, whether you're using them for commercial or non-commercial purposes.
When it comes to blogging, many people aren't prepared to commit time and effort to creating a successful blog. It often happens because they underestimate the time and effort required to achieve their goals. As a result, they may start in good spirits but quickly become discouraged when they don't see results, leading to them giving up altogether.
Having a realistic understanding of the time and effort required to reach your goals is important. So before you start a blog, ask yourself if you're ready to commit to it.
If you're a blogger, beware: making frequent grammatical errors in your blog can harm your credibility. In a world where anyone can start a blog, readers seek reasons to weed out the good from the bad.
If you're making careless mistakes in your posts, you're more likely to get passed over in favor of a blogger who doesn't.
So, if you find yourself making frequent grammatical errors, there are a few things you can do to improve your writing:
If you're running a blog, one of the worst mistakes you can make is neglecting internal links.
Including internal links in your blog makes it easier for readers and search engines to find the information they're looking for. In addition, its SEO advantages make internal linking an important factor in growing your blog.
Life is never so easy, and neither is blogging. Disappointment and failure are a part of it.
It's easy to get discouraged, especially if you do not see desired results. It's a pretty common mistake that bloggers make. They feel like their blog is not getting the attention it deserves, and that's when they lose heart and pull the plug.
Although some blogs might require more attention due to their respective niches, that still doesn't warranty any success. So, what you need is some consistency with a regular dose of patience. Doing this pushes you way ahead of the majority.
Success is just a whisker away. Enjoy the journey.
Many things go into being a successful blogger, but consistency is one of the most important.
It can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of creating new content and forget to maintain a regular posting schedule. Still, it's important to remember that consistency is key for blogging.
The readers and even search engines will appreciate knowing when they can expect new content from you. And if you're inconsistent with your posting, they may quickly lose interest.
Rarity lies in consistency. Writing 300 words per day for a week is better than writing the exact 2100 words at once.
Bloggers need to engage with their audience in today's social media age. Many bloggers post one-sided content without engaging with their readers instead of engaging with them.
One can argue that maintaining a regular posting schedule cannot be easy to keep up with readers' comments and questions. However, several simple strategies can help.
For instance, bloggers can ask their readers questions, encourage them to leave comments, and post interesting content that encourages discussion. Bloggers can build a loyal following and create a successful blog by engaging with their audience.
This is one mistake even some veteran bloggers find themselves making. And it can be considered a big one.
Content distribution is just as important as content creation. So, why do people not put in much effort here?
You might not want to promote your blog posts for several reasons. Maybe you're not comfortable with self-promotion or worried about coming across as spammy. Maybe you don't know about its importance.
Whatever the reason, if you're not promoting your blog posts, you're missing out on potential traffic. There are many ways to promote your blog, including social media, email marketing, and paid advertising.
You need to be proactive in promoting your blog if you want to generate traffic and build a following. Otherwise, you'll just wait for people to find your blog, which will not happen. It's sad, honestly.
Pro tip: Don't be sad. Let the world know about your awesome content piece.
Blogging has become one of the most popular online activities in recent years. People love sharing their thoughts and experiences and offering advice and information on a particular topic.
Even though anyone can start a blog, it's funny how many people repeat the same mistakes when blogging.
We've all made mistakes from time to time, whether forgetting to proofread a post before publishing or not promoting. Yes, we have.
The good thing is that there's always redemption. But before that, you need to be aware of these mistakes. We've tried to list some mistakes that can make you look like a rookie.
Now, the choice is yours. The ball's in your court.


As the post-pandemic global order emerges, fragmentation looms large across the geopolitical landscape. The US-China rift will widen as Beijing confronts American global influence and Asian neighbours head-on while exploiting weaknesses in Europe and much of the developing world. Unlike the Cold War , the new geopolitical structure is not marked by a binary US-Soviet divide with clearly-defined camps. Friends and foes often cross traditional lines for short-term economic interest, political gain and convenience. Although the United States and China constitute the world’s two largest economies, rising regional powers are pursuing their own agendas, often against the interests of the world’s top two players. The bottom line is that the new geopolitics reflects an increasingly complex and fragmented global landscape where uncertainty dominates a far more dangerous world. This is compounded by a generation of leaders worldwide largely short on long-term vision and strategic thinking. Despite confronting the triple onslaught of a public health pandemic, economic crisis and spiralling racial tensions, America’s bipartisan consensus against China will endure any potential change of presidential administration or legislative leadership after the 2020 elections. Furthermore, this sentiment will be increasingly backed by broad-based popular support and justified by America’s foreign policy establishment. Under President Xi Jinping, the Communist Party aggressively reinforces the perception of national unity at home and abroad. This was recently underlined at China’s annual parliamentary gathering. Apart from quelling domestic dissent, the party is actively exerting enormous diplomatic and economic pressure on overseas criticism. China recently imposed punitive tariffs on Australia after it successfully led efforts for a majority vote at the World Health Organisation for an international inquiry into Covid-19’s origins and global response. Fundamentally, China wants Australia and other Pacific nations to recognise its regional supremacy in both words and actions. However, regional resistance is mounting. Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia keep up pressure on Chinese claims in the South China Sea, as does Japan in the East China Sea. Australia consistently holds its ground against China on several fronts. Despite boasting the world’s largest democracy, India has yet to fulfil its potential at home or abroad. Internal challenges continue to obstruct its evolution. Its Covid-19 prospects and economic fallout appear grim. Regionally, India is consistently overshadowed by China’s rapid growth and influence on its doorstep and the broader Asia-Pacific. In the new geopolitics, India requires a serious course correction. It must upgrade its diplomacy and accelerate its regional engagement and integration. Otherwise, it risks long-term secondary regional status with limited, if any, global reach. The recent India-Australia military agreements – aimed largely at countering China’s rapid regional expansionism – were a major step in the right direction. However, overall, India remains behind the curve in its historic rivalry with China and assuming its proper regional role. The Covid-19 pandemic presents the European Union with its greatest existential crisis since its inception in 1957. More than ever, its internal weaknesses and divisions are prey for exploitation by China and other global players. European unity is required to ensure the union’s survival. In a recent EU report on disinformation in the pandemic, Chinese pressure succeeded in the removal of language accusing China of running a “global disinformation campaign to deflect blame” on Covid-19’s spread. Further interference and manipulation of Europe’s internal challenging can be expected. Russia has no interest in joining Trump’s anti-China crusade In the emerging world order, Russia will continue aggressively pursuing its own independent global agenda despite often siding with China at the UN Security Council in light of certain converging interests. Overall, Russia aims to avoid a subservient role to China or dependence on the West and prevent itself from being played as a geopolitical card to either side’s advantage. Although lacking overwhelming economic firepower, Russia’s vast natural resources, nuclear arsenal and willingness to project military power abroad – whether in Syria, Libya, along its immediate borders or in former Soviet lands – will still guarantee it a place at the table of great powers. Furthermore, despite the steep global oil price drop and the fact Russia has been hard hit by Covid-19, President Vladimir Putin is determined to maintain control at any cost. Proposed constitutional changes could keep him, or at least one of his underlings or inner circle members, in power until 2036. Until now, Turkey has defied the worst of expectations. It will continue to reassert its influence, often defying other major powers, particularly in former Ottoman domains of its near abroad. Whether drilling oil in disputed waters in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, engaging in quasi-direct conflicts with Russia in Libya or Syria, or vying for influence against Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the Gulf region or broader Middle East, Turkey will go its own way despite Nato membership. It will not hesitate to flex its muscles whenever possible as a determined regional player at a strategic global crossroads. After years of pursuing ambitious regional expansion and proxy wars, Iran has overreached. Crippling US sanctions and Covid-19’s economic fallout will sober, but not completely stall, Tehran’s regional agenda. It remains a historic and real regional power to be reckoned with. It will grow closer to China and continue to challenge America’s presence, and its allies, in the Middle East. Many regional players in the developing world – particularly in Africa and Latin America – remain ripe for internal and external exploitation. Rampant corruption, economic mismanagement, political ineptitude and extreme inequalities hinder them from achieving their full potential. Any real growth is often marginal at best. The general failure by many regional powers to provide meaningful leadership at home, or in their broader neighbourhoods, has created power vacuums skilfully filled by China in the past two decades. Like many other trends, the Covid-19 fallout may only accelerate this process. Marco Vicenzino, a country risk expert for Euromoney, specialises in geopolitical risk and international business development


In the wake of the pandemic, certain management styles no longer cut it in the eyes of employees. Overly controlling and forceful leaders aren’t just viewed as unpleasant; they’re considered an active hindrance by many professionals that want to thrive in their careers.
Savvy companies understand that meeting employee expectations in this department matters, particularly when the labor market is tight. As a result, servant leadership is on the rise in Michigan, helping area employers stand out from competitors and secure and retain the top performers they need to thrive.
Here’s a look at what servant leadership involves, the benefits it provides, and how you can embrace the servant leadership style in your workplace.
What Is Servant Leadership?
While traditional leadership styles mainly focus on the success of the company, servant leaders adopt an employee-centric view of management. Usually, the strategy involves facilitating growth while being supportive, ensuring employees feel empowered while caring for their well-being.
Empathy plays a big role in servant leadership, as well. Managers actively strive to put themselves in their employees’ shoes, ensuring they know the impact of challenges they face or why they have a particular perspective.
The Benefits of Servant Leadership
Inherently, servant leadership is a very nurturing approach. The concept focuses on how a manager can make things better for their employees, not how workers can serve the company. Often, this leads to very welcoming, inclusive environments.
When servant leadership becomes part of the culture, morale generally rises. Employees feel that management isn’t just working with them but actively supporting them, creating a positive workplace. Plus, innovation may thrive under servant leadership, primarily because workers feel safe enough to take smart risks. Together, this makes the optimal conditions for higher productivity and quality improvements, all while cultivating a workplace that employees genuinely enjoy.
Servant leadership can also make nearly any task more meaningful. Often, servant leaders are more common in values-driven organizations. Plus, managers are more likely to help employees see how their contributions impact broader goals, which leads to higher job satisfaction.
How to Embrace Servant Leadership
Adopting servant leadership principles and incorporating them into your own management style or workplace isn’t as difficult as it may seem. Mainly, it’s about embracing key concepts like employee empowerment while promoting wellness.
Along the way, make tools available that help employees learn and grow, all while doing your part to remove obstacles that hinder their success. Additionally, coaching takes precedent over direct instruction with servant leadership. Similarly, supportive autonomy is typically part of the equation, ensuring employees can take ownership of tasks while knowing that they can receive guidance if it’s needed.
Active listening is also critical in servant leadership. Ultimately, you can meet your workforce’s needs if you don’t understand the challenges they’re facing or their perspective. Through active listening, you can learn a lot about how best to support their success, giving you critical insights that let you become a stronger leader.
If you’d like to learn more about servant leadership, the team at The Advance Group wants to hear from you. Contact us today.


2020’s African Union for Housing Finance Conference was held under the theme,
“Investing in the SDGs: Finding a market opportunity in affordable housing”. To playback the sessions of 2020’s virtual conference, please visit the Youtube channel here and follow this link to access some of the presentations made by the speakers.
The session moderated by Mr. Sean Godoy facilitated a discussion around the potential of technology to resolve challenges facing the housing value chain. Mr. Taofeeq Olatinwo (Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company) provided an overview on NMRC’s blockchain strategy in Nigeria’s Housing Finance Ecosystem. Dr. Emmanuel Mungongo (Bank of Tanzania) presented insights on potential opportunities and risks to affordable Housing arising from the growing digitisation of services and increasing connectivity of machines


The SevaAir Mission
To serve as South Asia’s dedicated, non-profit, and secular humanitarian air service by enabling critical humanitarian air transport for individuals, organizations, agencies, and communities.
What is a Humanitarian Air Service?
The power of aviation has been harnessed for humanitarian purposes in several parts of the world, whether it be through a low-cost air ambulance, a flying health program for remote areas, passenger and cargo transport for community development and natural disasters, or in times of political instability.
Organizations such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and AMREF are a testament to the difficult but essential conditions under which aircraft can operate for humanitarian benefit.
Why a Humanitarian Air Service for South Asia?
South Asia is home to well over one fifth of the world's population. However, many areas face inequitable distribution of resources, low index of human development, political instability, and natural disasters
Indeed, the Indian subcontinent is highly prone to droughts, floods and other natural calamities, all of which require significant humanitarian resource capability to manage
Telemedicine and mobile clinics on wheels are ultimately constrained by limited road and electric infrastructure, and many parts of South Asia remain distanced from urban areas or are cut off during times of natural disaster
The UN notes that “aircraft provide the humanitarian community safe and reliable passage for personnel and cargo, in particular to areas where travel overland has become impossible due to insecurity of impassable roads, or for security reasons”
Till now, South Asia has not had a dedicated and unified humanitarian air service to help meet the region’s diverse humanitarian air transport needs
SevaAir works to bridge this gap with its alliance partners and provide South Asia with a dedicated humanitarian air service that is responsive to its needs.


I love watching replays of great sports highlights. Sometimes you see something so extraordinary that you tell others they have to see it to believe it. The one-handed catch, the in-the-park home run, and the photo finish are all examples of these types of moments. They are amazing feats that boggle the mind.
I wonder how many people in biblical times saw Jesus perform miracles and told others they wouldn’t have believed it unless they saw it with their own eyes. Of course, we believe the stories of his miracles, and we didn’t see them in person. We do believe them, don’t we?
There is no television program that features replays of the actual miracles Jesus performed 2,000 years ago. However, there are miracles every day for the world to see. Many of those come about by allowing God to work through us. People are waiting to be healed and fed, and mountains are waiting to be moved. There might not be a replay for these miracles either. However, people will be amazed by the power of God. Jesus said we could do these things if we had faith. Blessed are those who believe but who have not seen. Furthermore, blessed are those who perform great works with God so that others may see.
–Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS


Young Black men in London suffer from one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. 33% of young Black men are out of work, compared to a 15% unemployment rate among young White men. This is regardless of their education level: Black graduate unemployment is more than 3 times higher than that of their White peers.
As a business with a wide operational footprint across London, Telent has a responsibility to break down structural barriers that make it harder for young Black men to join the workforce, and more difficult to progress once they’re part of it.
That’s why we’ve has joined the Greater London Authority (GLA) Design Lab. Run by the office of the Mayor of London, the 12-month programme aims to support large businesses committed to tackling the underrepresentation of young Black men aged 16 to 24.
Currently focused on the Construction & Infrastructure and Technology sectors, the Design Lab creates a space for businesses to come together and collectively explore the causes of underrepresentation in their workforces and the broader sector in a data-driven manner.
Throughout 2022, Telent will be involved in workshops, one-to-one coaching and engagement with young people. It centres around building a bespoke action plan to recruit, retain and progress more young Black men in Telent’s business.


The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the need for diversification in pharma manufacturing to reduce dependence on one country -China. US Pharmacopeia, a public standards-setting organisation for drugs and food worldwide, says the spotlight is now on India.
In a conversation with CNBC-TV18's Archana Shukla, Doctor KV Surendranath, vice president of global sites at US Pharmacopeia, said that while managing drug shortages during a health crisis, the onus is on regulators to assess quality of drugs sourced. He added that substandard versions of "potential" COVID treatments like HCQ are already making way into the global supply chains, despite its efficacy being under question.


Cable Performance and Specifications
GORE DVI Cables (Digital Only) for Aircraft meet rigorous standards for impedance control, insertion loss, skew, and EMI shielding, ensuring clear high-resolution video transfer in the most demanding radar environments. Additionally, our DVI aviation cables are evaluated in an eye mask test to ensure signal quality and high-speed data transmission consistency. A white, laser-markable engineered fluoropolymer jacket promotes strength, while silver-plated copper alloy conductors offer an intuitive, color-coded design.
Compared to alternatives, GORE DVI Cables (Digital Only) for Aircraft boast superior performance in a variety of aircraft environments with benefits such as the following:
Exceptional Signal Quality
To ensure their performance in demanding radar environments, GORE DVI Cables (Digital Only) for Aircraft have been strictly evaluated to ensure the consistency of signal quality and high speed transmission, meaning they meet stringent requirements for impedance control, insertion loss, skew and EMI shielding. They also support the highest video resolution for optimal viewing on cockpit and cabin displays, all necessary aspects of reliable cable performance in aircraft DVI systems.
Optimal Design
Smaller, lighter weight and more flexible than alternatives, the versatile design of GORE DVI Cables (Digital Only) for Aircraft doesn’t sacrifice robustness and enables responsible termination with leading aerospace and defense connector systems.
Compatible with Standard DVI Harness Configurations
Thanks to their versatility, GORE DVI Cables (Digital Only) give design engineers added peace of mind. Ideally suited for standard DVI harness configurations installed in aircraft, they won’t have to worry about designing harnesses with digital components that are inadequate for these environments.
Meeting Rigorous Standards across Several Applications
Our aerospace cables are tested and prequalified to rigorous standards to ensure optimal performance in challenging conditions. Their quality and durability offer peace of mind that critical systems will function without error during flight. GORE DVI Cables (Digital Only) for Aircraft meet standard SAE AS4373™ for Test Methods for Insulated Electric Wire, as well as the following applicable standards:
Flammability:ABD0031 (AITM 2.0005); BSS7230; FAR Part 25, Appendix F, Part I Toxicity:ABD0031 (AITM 3.0005); BSS7239 Smoke Density:ABD0031 (AITM 3.0008B); BSS7238; FAR Part 25, Appendix F, Part V Environmental Testing, Jacket and Marking:ANSI/NEMA WC 27500
Due to their wide range of compliance and durable, flexible, lightweight design, GORE DVI Cables (Digital Only) for Aircraft are appropriate for a wide range of high-resolution video applications for the cockpit and cabin alike. Common civil and military applications include:
Cockpit displays Flight crew workstations Flight management systems In-flight entertainment (IFE) systems Weather mapping


COVID-19: Change Management and Leadership During Times of Uncertainty
Disruption, though challenging, offers leaders an opportunity to transform their organizations with progressive leadership strategies. Equipped with the right resources to proactively respond to change, leaders can forge a more change-ready culture in their organizations, enabling their teams to succeed in uncertain business environments. Below are actions we encourage all leaders to take now to mobilize your teams with an intentional change management strategy:
Communication: Invest in transparent, purposeful messaging. Build an effective messaging framework throughout the organization. Establish diverse methods for receiving and sharing information to promote retention and adherence. Use livestreaming, video conferencing and collaboration software such as Teams, Zoom and Slack to stay connected with staff working remotely. Ensure communication is clear, consistent and easily accessible to all. Start with explaining the “why” behind new changes, followed by the “what” and “how” of your change management strategy. Engagement: Foster an environment of teamwork and collaboration. Solidify purposeful, transparent and timely rounding for honest feedback. Increase rounding frequency to ensure all team members see you role model strong engagement and collaboration behaviors as a leader. Ensure you are consistently available to answer your team’s questions and offer support when needed. Align performance expectations to avoid losing momentum on the work ahead. Empower high performers to become innovative and adaptable in tackling unconventional challenges. Set clear expectations with low performers on how to manage their current workload. Pair them with high performers to create greater impact. Adaptability: Leverage data to create innovative and informed solutions. Examine relevant business data to determine the most critical changes needed to improve your team’s performance. Seek out emerging patterns and create new solutions that make your teams even more productive than before the pandemic. Remain objective in analyzing data and communicating results. Resist comparing against normalized performance and reject the urge to “get back to normal” or compromise with a short-term “backup plan.” Resilience: Generate energy to endure the short term. Examine failures for what went wrong and determine how you will correct it next time. Maintain consistent communication with your team as to what is working and what needs to be adjusted. Preserve a relentless loyalty to your mission and vision. Keep yourself and your teams on track by emphasizing the “why.” Acknowledge when team members are excelling in developing new strengths. Go over lessons learned each day and have team members share what they learned and what they will change or maintain. Ambitious pursuit: Drive innovation to promote higher performance. Engage your team members with a compelling purpose, motivating them to stay the course, however uncertain. Mobilize your team around what opportunities the disruptive environment can bring. Urge team members to strive for excellence. Encourage team members to present new ideas for performing at a higher level. Reward team members for improved performance to create camaraderie and greater individual confidence.


Soccer can be characterised as an intermittent sport, with “repeated bouts of high-intensity running interspersed with periods of rest or low-intensity running”
In soccer, the final match result in team games, especially association soccer, is determined by multiple factors.
Training load can be classified in external load, which represents measures derived from position data or inertial measurement units and can be defined as physical demands imposed during training sessions or match scenarios;
Quantifying training is a common practice conducted in professional sports teams, the aims of which are to determine the external and internal load imposed on players through training and to determine the acute and long-term implications of training.
With its load characteristics, the team sport of soccer places high physical demands on players and thus is associated with a high risk of injury.
The main androgen, testosterone, affects a variety of parameters such as body composition, muscle metabolism and function, protein synthesis, and muscle mass.18,23 These parameters are related with the ability to perform efficiently during exercise.23,35,39.


Oct 14, 2022 – 03:00 PM in London
In July, the African nation of Gabon reported it would be coming to market with a multi-million-ton offering of emissions reductions, achieved since it endorsed the Paris Agreement in 2015, under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) REDD+ mechanism.
Gabon is a country with a strong political commitment to preserving rainforests – and has been for over thirty years. Since the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, the country has maintained low deforestation rates and high levels of forest cover.
Ahead of COP27, the government will be issuing its first REDD+ sovereign carbon credits. Comprising over 90 million metric tons of emissions reductions, the carbon removals result from accomplished and audited national conservation efforts and emissions reductions under
(2010-2018). During this period, Gabon successfully reduced deforestation and degradation of forests across the country, and enhanced carbon stocks through active forest management. At the same time, Gabon has sustained and increased its biodiversity with success stories like saving the African forest elephant and protecting other key species, like gorillas. UNFCCC REDD+
A corporate decision to allocate capital toward climate mitigation outcomes is increasingly complex.
Join the webinar to learn how Gabon’s UNFCCC REDD+ sovereign carbon credits can help maximize your corporation’s climate mitigation potential while minimizing climate risk exposures


Background
In 2002, the California state legislature passed the groundbreaking law, AB 1493, limiting global warming pollution from passenger vehicles. In 2004, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted the standards mandated by this law, requiring automakers to achieve significant fleet-wide reductions in global warming pollution from their passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks by 2016. These global warming standards supplement California’s previous vehicle regulations, which include standards for air pollutants and the production of zero-emissions vehicles. Together, this suite of standards is known as the clean car standards. Under Section 177 of the Clean Air Act, any other state is allowed to adopt these standards, as long as they are at least as stringent as the federal standards and California has received the requisite “waiver” from the US EPA.
What do the clean car standards include?
Known collectively as the clean car standards, these rules encompass three areas of standards for cars and trucks: air quality, global warming, and zero-emission vehicles. The air quality standards set limits on soot and smog-forming pollutants; the global warming standards regulate carbon dioxide and other heat trapping gases; and finally, the Zero-Emission Vehicle standards require auto companies to produce ultraclean gasoline and hybrid vehicles in the states that have adopted these standards.
Air Quality Standards
The air quality section of the standards covers the smog-forming pollutants from vehicles, such as nitrous oxides, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter. These are essentially the same as the federal standards for these pollutants, and would require very few changes in states adopting the clean car standards.
Global Warming Standards
The global warming portion of the standards regulates the emission of heat trapping gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and refrigerants used in air conditioning systems. Currently, there are no federal regulations that limit the emissions of global warming gases from vehicles. The regulation requires that the maximum feasible global warming emission-reductions from passenger vehicles and light trucks be achieved in a cost-effective manner. These standards apply only to vehicles weighing less than 10,000 pounds, with more stringent emission limits for cars than for trucks. These standards were to become effective with model year 2009 (1) to achieve a 30% reduction in global warming pollution from new vehicles by 2016. (2) The California Air Resources Board has begun work on the second phase of the standards, often referred to as the “Pavley 2 Standards” (in reference to Assemblywoman Fran Pavley who authored the original bill), which will regulate fleet-wide emissions from 2016 through 2020.
Zero Emission Vehicles Standards
The Zero-Emission Vehicle standards direct auto companies to produce a wide range of zeroemission vehicles in the states that have adopted the clean car standards, including batteryelectric, hydrogen fuel-cell, and ultra-clean gasoline vehicles. Some states have opted not to adopt this portion of the clean car standards, while moving ahead with the air quality and global warming portions of the regulations.
Does this pre-empt my state’s authority?
No. A state must actively choose to adopt the clean car standards, which often means an affirmative vote by the state legislature. The state can also choose to revert back to the federal standards at any time.
Which other states have adopted the California clean car standards?
Thirteen other states and the District of Columbia have adopted the clean car standards: Arizona, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Several others are actively perusing or considering adoption: Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, and Utah. The California Air Resources Board conducted an analysis in May 2008 and found significant benefits from the implementation of the standards by these 15 states (including California and DC). By 2020, implementing the planned Clean Car Standards in these 15 states will reduce cumulative global warming emissions by 451 million metric tons of CO2E (3), a 43% improvement compared to the proposed federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. As more states adopt the clean car standards, the benefits will increase.
Do we need these standards in addition to the new federal CAFE standards?
The clean car standards reduce global warming pollution from passenger vehicles more than the minimal, proposed federal CAFE standards. The federal standards passed in the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act require a minimum fleetwide average of 35 miles-per-gallon (mpg) for light-duty vehicles by 2020. By contrast, the estimated fleet average fuel economy equivalent of California’s planned 2020 standards, when adopted by other states, is 39.2 mpg. (4) Further, it should be noted that CAFE standards are not designed specifically to reduce the greenhouse gas pollution from vehicles and thus do not address, for example, air conditioning refrigerant leakage and A/C component efficiency - which are addressed by the clean car standards, and can result in even greater global warming emission reductions from vehicles.(5) These standards also lay the groundwork for implementation of stricter standards in the future, and will help states generate the institutional capacity to specifically regulate global warming pollution from mobile sources. This will prove important as the U.S. EPA moves ahead with national global warming standards for vehicles – a process that will be strengthened and improved by California’s early and rigorous regulatory action.
Notes
(1) Implementation was delayed under the Bush Administration when the EPA refused to grant CA the requisite waiver to move ahead. The situation changed in January 2009, when President Obama ordered that the waiver application and decision be reconsidered by the EPA based on scientific analysis. Experts expect that the waiver will soon be granted, allowing states to move ahead with implementation.
(2) California Air Resources Board, 2008. “Comparison of Greenhouse Gas Reductions for the United States and Canada Under ARB GHG Regulations and Proposed Federal 2011-2015 Model Year Fuel Economy Standards. An Enhanced TechnicalAssessment, February 25.” (3) CO2 Equivalent. The amount of any greenhouse gas that contributes the same global warming impact as a ton of CO2. (4) Same as 2. (5) The clean car standards are stated as grams of GHG per mile and do not directly equate to miles-per-gallon. They require GHG emission reductions, and do not directly regulate fuel economy. This calculation also assumes a 50/50 fleet mix between cars and trucks. If the market share of cars increases, fleetwide fuel economy will increase, as the clean car standards are more stringent for cars than for trucks.


A recent study published in the Cancer Journal established that chemosensitivity assay profiling is a promising tool which can be used for guiding treatment in advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients.
This prospective study aimed to establish chemosensitivity assay as a cutting edge approach to guide treatment in patients with metastatic PDAC. The study included 70 metastatic PDAC patients who were yet to receive either G/nab-P or FOLFIRINOX at a 1:1 ratio. For this, 6ml of peripheral blood was drawn from the patients at baseline and once the disease progression occured, isolation of circulating tumor and invasive cells (CTICs) was done, followed by gene-expression profiling, and the assay to gather information about effective and ineffective chemotherapeutic agents.
Chemosensitivity assay rightly predicted that the patients who were treated with effective chemotherapeutic agents had significantly longer median progression-free survival and median overall survival, than an ineffective regimen.
Thus, chemosensitivity assay profiling holds a lot of promise in advanced PDAC treatment therapy.


Confidentiality at the interface of an adolescent psychotherapy service
Thomas, Rhianne, Congdon, Lawrence and Habel, Batsheva (2021)
Confidentiality at the interface of an adolescent psychotherapy service. BJPsych Open . ISSN 2056-4724 Full text available
PDF (Thomas (Confidentiality))
Thomas - Confidentiality.pdf - Published Version
Download (160kB) | Preview
Abstract
Aims: Aims included to explore how, within a London trust, staff at the interface between patients, relatives and access to services view their understanding of confidentiality, and to determine ways to improve knowledge if needed. Background: Confidentiality is essential to the trust and development of clinician-patient relationships. National policies set guidance on how confidential information should be recorded, secured and shared. However, confidentiality breaches are reportedly common within health professions. Working with adolescent patient groups brings additional issues regarding confidentiality. Care-givers who contact services, often desiring containment, may experience a sense of uncertainty when confidentiality policy prevents details being shared about a young person's clinical experience. Method: Stakeholders were identified from the multidisciplinary team, with a collaborative rather than ‘top-down’ approach. Administrators in patient-facing roles were surveyed to ascertain current understanding and frequency of involvement in confidentiality issues. Based on feedback, a flowchart prompt was designed, ensuring it reflected best practice. Qualitative and quantitive data were collected before and after a two month implementation period. Result: All respondents (n = 10) dealt with confidentiality issues at work, with 50% experiencing issues daily. 33% respondents did not feel confident dealing with confidentiality queries at work. The majority (60%) had received confidentiality training, but all respondents thought extra information would be useful. Of possible interventions, 70% supported a flowchart. Following an implementation period, 100% respondents re-surveyed agreed they felt confident dealing with issues related to confidentiality at work. The majority of respondents had used the flowchart and found it useful (83%). Qualitative data gathered suggested rolling-out the project elsewhere. Conclusion: A lack of confidence surrounding issues with confidentiality, including information sharing, was identified. This can negatively impact patient engagement and delivery of care. The introduction of the confidentiality flowchart demonstrated improved understanding of, and confidence in, patient confidentiality issues. The small sample size means there are limitations in extrapolating findings to wider contexts. However, it is likely that more confidentiality training and practical information for NHS staff at the interface between patients, clinicians and services would reduce the risk of confidentiality breaches and reinforce positive relationships with services.
Item Type: Article Subjects: Children, Young People and Developmental Pyschology > Adolescents - Psychotherapy
Health and Medical Sciences > Patient Care
Department/People: Children, Young Adult and Family Services URI: https://repository.tavistockandportman.ac.uk/id/eprint/2457 Actions (Library Staff login required)
View Item


Abstract
The search for a fossil record of Earth's deep biosphere, partly motivated by potential analogies with subsurface habitats on Mars, has uncovered numerous assemblages of inorganic microfilaments and tubules inside ancient pores and fractures. Although these enigmatic objects are morphologically similar to mineralized microorganisms (and some contain organic carbon), they also resemble some abiotic structures. Palaeobiologists have responded to this ambiguity by evaluating problematic filaments against checklists of “biogenicity criteria”. Here, we describe material that tests the limits of this approach. We sampled Jurassic calcite veins formed through subseafloor serpentinization, a water–rock reaction that can fuel the deep biosphere and is known to have occurred widely on Mars. At two localities ~4 km apart, veins contained curving, branched microfilaments composed of Mg‐silicate and Fe‐oxide minerals. Using a wide range of analytical techniques including synchrotron X‐ray microtomography and scanning transmission electron microscopy, we show that these features meet many published criteria for biogenicity and are comparable to fossilized cryptoendolithic fungi or bacteria. However, we argue that abiotic processes driven by serpentinization could account for the same set of lifelike features, and report a chemical garden experiment that supports this view. These filaments are, therefore, most objectively described as dubiofossils, a designation we here defend from criticism and recommend over alternative approaches, but which nevertheless signifies an impasse. Similar impasses can be anticipated in the future exploration of subsurface palaeo‐habitats on Earth and Mars. To avoid them, further studies are required in biomimetic geochemical self‐organization, microbial taphonomy and micro‐analytical techniques, with a focus on subsurface habitats.
Keywords biogenicity deep biosphere Dubiofossi Mars pseudofossil serpentinization


As of June 30th, 2020, Gentai Capital has managed GMIC for over 7 years and 9 months, funding 374 mortgages totalling $457.90 million, successfully achieving the target annual return of
8.24%*, and consistently paying dividends (31 dividends + 2 special distribution) with total dividends paid of $36,364,530. * There is no guarantee of performance. Past performance may not be repeated. GMIC Performance (Quarterly) As of June 30th, 2020
Highlights of the Quarter:
Total mortgage interest of $3.60 million. Regular quarterly dividend continues at $0.02 per quarter- $0.08 annual rate, plus a special dividend at year-end, as determined by the board of directors. The loan portfolio has an average Loan to Value (LTV) of 19%. Mortgage portfolio of $146 million. Continued focus on low-risk real estate sectors By Geographic Location: Mortgage properties are concentrated in central urban areas; Vancouver, Surrey accounted for the top two. Central urban areas are preferred locations where the real estate market is active and less volatile.
By Mortgage Type: Mortgage types include single houses, townhouses, condos, commercial, land and construction. Single houses consisted of 68% of the mortgage portfolio. Diversification in investments is expected to lessen the risks involved.
By Mortgage Interest Rate: As of June 30 th, 2020, the average mortgage interest rate is 22%. Gentai Capital applies strict control in risk management throughout the loan process. Due to the strict and robust lending policy, Gentai Capital has not only consistently achieved an 8.24%* return for investors in seven years and nine months but also strictly controlled the potential risks involved to generate such a high rate of return.
By Mortgage Position: Firs position over 59.50%.


Below is a video which describes some of the differences between Shotokan and Kyokushin Karate.
Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn, a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter. If your mind isn't clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life.
~ Wu-men ~
Let there be a small country with few people,
Who, even having much machinery, don't use it.
Who take death seriously and don't wander far away.
Even though they have boats and carriages, they never ride in them.
Having armor and weapons, they never go to war.
Let them return to measurement by tying knots in rope.
Sweeten their food, give them nice clothes, a peaceful abode and a relaxed life.
Even though the next country can be seen and its doges and chickens can be heard,
The people will grow old and die without visiting each other's land.
The full post may be read here.
God (Kami)
When the English word God is translated into Japanese, it is generally represented by the kanji (Chinese character) 神 and pronounced kami. However, to avoid misunderstanding, it would be better to think of God, 神, and kami as three separate concepts.
“God” is the supreme being of monotheism and is customarily capitalized to indicate the unique nature of the deity and draw a distinction with the multiple gods of polytheism.
The written Japanese form, 神, is influenced by the Chinese meaning of the character. Common words in both languages using this character, such as 精神 (pronounced seishin in Japanese), meaning “spirit” or “mind,” and 神経 (shinkei), meaning “nerves,” are related to human mental qualities. Pronounced shen in Chinese, the character 神 carries some divine attributes, but they are of a decidedly low rank and far below those of the highest power in Chinese theology, termed 天 (tian) or 上帝 (shangdi) in Chinese.
Japan’s kami were traditionally thought of as anthropomorphized natural phenomena. They included the kami that appear in the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) and the Nihon shoki (Chronicle of Japan), Japan’s ancient records of myth and history, kami that were worshiped in shrines, and everything possessing extraordinary qualities, including the sun, the moon, the wind, the rain, the sea, large rocks and trees, and even some smaller plants, animals, and people. This is how they were defined by the eighteenth-century scholar of Japanese classics Motoori Norinaga. According to Motoori, anything that inspired awe and sensitivity to ephemeral beauty (aware) was a kami.
For Japanese people who believe this, their country is a rich natural landscape with kami to be found wherever they turn—in short a kami no kuni or “country of kami.” If this phrase is translated into English as “God’s country,” it can be misunderstood as a fanatically nationalistic expression, but this is not what the phrase actually means.
A Blended Faith
Japan’s traditional faith, based on worship of kami, is known as Shintō. There are no records to show what it was like in ancient times, and many details are unclear. We cannot even say if there was a set of beliefs and rituals sufficiently unified that we could call them Shintō. It is likely that the religion came into being as a blend of different elements, including the following:
*The nature worship of hunter-gatherers in the Jōmon period (ca. 15,000 BC–300 BC)
*The worship of clay figurines as symbols of crop fertility and the shamanism introduced from the Korean Peninsula in the Yayoi Period, when rice farming had taken hold (300 BC–250 AD)
*The bronze weapons and mirrors imported from China and used by chiefs in festivals and magic rituals
*The influence on rulers’ festival and funeral rituals from Chinese divination, astronomy, calendar studies, and thinking related to the legendary transcendental figures known as shinsen, or “divine immortals”
*The worship of family gods and the building of shrines by a range of local communities and groups
*The Japanese began to think of these elements together as Shintō after Buddhism spread to Japan and they compared the new religion with their traditional practices.
After the founder of Judo, Jigoro Kano, there is probably no brighter light in the history of Judo than Kyuzo Mifune. He looms as a giant in the history of Judo.
Below is a short documentary on master Mifune's inventions and contributions to the art of Judo. Enjoy.


A plastic-free supermarket aisle has been unveiled in Amsterdam, which will see more than 700 products without plastic packaging become available, prompting calls for UK retailers to follow suit.
The reportedly “world-first” plastic-free aisle has been set up in a new metro-sized pilot store of supermarket chain Ekoplaza, with products available including meat, rice, sauces, dairy, chocolate, cereals, fruit and vegetables.
Environmental group, A Plastic Planet, has hailed the initiative as a “landmark moment” for the global fight against plastic pollution, and co-founder Sian Sutherland called for UK supermarkets to introduce aisles without plastic packaging.
Earlier this year, Iceland pledged to eliminate plastic from all its own-brand packaging by 2023, with an array of UK retailers making similar announcements.
Prime Minister Theresa May also announced the Governments 25-year environment plan, including plans for plastic bags.
Speaking to The Times newspaper, former chief executive of Asda, Andy Clarke, urged supermarkets to “take the plastic-free plunge and start by examining how Ekoplaza had achieved it in its Amsterdam branch”.
According to reports, Ekoplaza will roll out plastic-free aisles across its 74 branches by the end of this year.


The rise in storm frequency and rapid intensification of hurricanes this season underscores the need for quick adjustments to risk mitigation strategies as a large number of storms dramatically intensified in under 24 hours. While the 2020 hurricane season comes to end this week, risk and insurance professionals should take core lessons from this year to prepare for the next.
#risktech #insurtech #riskmanagement #climaterisk #hurricaneseason2020


A PICTORIAL ESSAY MEMOIR TO VISIBILIZE MENTAL HEALTH
Mental health concern remains critical and in the absence of adequate support system, particularly in the rural areas, young girls grapple with diverse forms of socio-psychological problems. Sama facilitated a workshop with a group of young girls in Jharkhand, through art based methods on discussing mental well being and health. A creative brief drawn from self memoir and storytelling is developed to further these conversations at varied levels.
The idea behind the interactive session was to break the stigma around discussing depression, anxiety and other forms of distressing emotions, and sharing those feelings without fear and shame.
Acknowledgment
We acknowledge the creation of this brief to all the young girls who participated in the Sama workshop (29–30 March 2022). Through their active participation and sharing, a conversation on mental health was initiated as well as the gendered issues and struggles of young girls were highlighted in connection with the same.
We express our heartfelt thanks to Subhadra and Devika for joining the Sama team as Arts workshop resource persons and conceptualising and facilitating the sessions with the girls.
Thanks to Sneha Makkad for her support in coordination and documentation. Pictures–Art material made by girls during the workshop


Amtrak advises passengers to arrive at the station 45 minutes before departure. Unlike commercial air travel, rail passengers do not undergo intensive security screenings.
Most travelers will want to reserve their tickets ahead of time, on Amtrak’s website or its mobile app. Effective Dec. 20-30, passengers on the Keystone Corridor and Pennsylvanian trains will be required to reserve their seats in advance. The Keystone trains operate between New York and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, via Philadelphia. The Pennsylvanian trains operate between New York and Pittsburgh via Philadelphia.
Amtrak does not charge a fee if your plans change, but you may encounter a 25% cancellation fee for certain fares. Fares are fully refundable if canceled within 24 hours of purchase.
Unlike most commercial airlines, Amtrak does not charge passengers for the first two checked bags. Like the airlines, though, there are restrictions based on size and weight.
Amtrak allows two personal items and two carry-on items per passenger. Personal items must weigh 25 pounds or less and fit within 14 by 11 by 7 inches. Carry-ons must weigh 50 pounds or less and fit within 28 by 22 by 14 inches, or 28 by 22 by 11 inches on the Pacific Surfliner trains in California.
Passengers can check two bags that weigh 50 pounds or less and can check two overweight or oversize bags for a fee of $20 per bag.
Amtrak passengers can bring their bikes aboard many trains, as long as they weigh 50 pounds or less. In most cases, passengers will need to reserve spots for bikes, as they are limited. Riders can either carry their bikes on or check them. Fees range from $5 to $20 per bike.
Dogs and cats that weigh 20 pounds or less can travel on certain trains in approved carriers for a $26 fee. Pets must be properly vaccinated and cannot travel in business class or in sleeping cars. Spaces must be reserved and are limited to one pet per passenger.
Amtrak offers discounts to seniors, veterans, students, children and people with disabilities.
Seniors and veterans can get a 10% discount on coach seats nationwide. The discount does not apply to non-Acela business class tickets, first class or sleeping car accommodations.
Seniors and veterans have it even better in California: The state-supported San Joaquin, Capitol Corridor and Pacific Surfliner routes offer a 15% discount.
The nationwide senior discount is available to passengers 65 and older; in California, the senior discount applies to passengers 62 and older.
Students can get a 15% discount on Midwest regional routes in Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri and Michigan. Students in California can get a 15% discount on the San Joaquin, Capitol Corridor and Pacific Surfliner routes.
One child age 2-12 traveling with an accompanying adult can receive a 50% discount on the lowest adult fare. One child under age 2 can ride free with an accompanying adult.
Adult passengers with disabilities can get a 10% discount.
Since its inception, The National Digest has been dedicated to providing authoritative and thought-provoking insights into trending topics and the latest happenings.


Key Insights: Black-led unicorns are on the rise as Esusu secures a $1 billion valuation for it’s alt-data credit history service. As the company celebrated its status another Black-led unicorn faced criticism for its calendar scheduling service. The Plug predicted the industries in which the next Black-led unicorns may arise.
Esusu, a fintech company that uses a non-traditional metric of on-time rent payments to evaluate users’ creditworthiness and report it to bureaus reached a billion-dollar valuation last week.This was a big win for the company as it joins a growing class of Black-led unicorn companies.
On the enterprise-facing side, Tope Awotona’s scheduling platform Calendly was abuzz last week from complaints lodged by s
ome users about the power dynamic of referring someone to a Calendly link as others defended using the platform.
While there will always be detractors, these founders have had a knack for fitting solutions to fundamental needs. Technologies like Esusu’s and Calendly’s both serve a niche and a universal problem.
In 2020, The Plug predicted the rise of the Black-led unicorn and cast bets on the industries in which these companies would emerge. The Plug had identified more than half a dozen Black-led companies that were well-positioned to be worth over $1 billion. These companies represented a wide range of industries including SaaS, consumer technology, sustainable meat alternatives, enterprise tech and transportation.
The company trajectories of what Awotona and Esusu’s cofounder Abbey Wemimo have built will serve as a blueprint for other Black-led companies on this same path.


Nonprofit-Performance-360-Vol-3-No-1-Berger
Nonprofits that Work
Tammy Harden
Encourage, Equip and Empower 3e Restoration
W hat if serving others were something that didn’t drain us, but a process that both aided the holistic growth of the individual and also contributed to the development of an organization? That very ideal sits at the heart of most organizations in the nonprofit sector. Yet, sadly, we often fall short. Since the founding of 3e Restoration in March 2014, we have been able to embark on a journey. Our founder, Fred Liggin, joined with clinical psychologist Dr. James Goalder to create a unique curriculum that trains a community, typically a local church, to walk with Friends in Need. Not seeking simply to patch the holes and send our homeless friends on their way, we believe that homelessness and poverty affects the whole person physically, emotionally, cognitively, socially, and spiritually, the Five-Fold Reality of Poverty and Brokenness™. At 3e Restoration, we believe in what we do because we have seen it work, not only in the lives of our Friends in Need, but in our partnering organizations. We regularly hear from our partnering churches that the holistic and deeply relational approach of 3e has provided the local congregation with an opportunity to live their mission, without feeling like they are simply engaging in another program or offering some transactional ministry. The core of the program revolves around our values: Justice, Love, Friendship, Gracious Hospitality, Relentless Hope, Compassion, and Listening. This foundation allows us to encourage, equip, and empower faith communities to walk a journey with our Friends in Need, seeking to break the cycle of homelessness and extreme poverty through
Five-Fold Reality of Poverty and Brokenness. 2. Social &Cultural Anthropology: Moving Beyond Crisis Management Our approach specifically addresses the narratives and structures from which Friends derive their systems of meaning and behavior. Our training and curriculum is designed to uncover the personal narratives that possess power in a Friend’s life and how these narratives are formed by relationships, experiences, nature, culture and language. Our curriculum also equips the Friend to understand how systems of meaning are supported by and embedded in the values, institutions, rules/ laws, and symbols that set the parameters by which life is envisioned in society, and ultimately determine what behaviors are acceptable. Addressing these areas empowers the Friend for systemic change by helping them recognize behavioral patterns and their origins. 3. Memorable CoachingTools: Moving Beyond Behavioral Modification We believe that equipping a Friend in Need for holistic sufficiency means giving them the tools to build character and competency. These tools must be accessible regardless of educational level. They must be easy for the Friend to recall and employ in real-life sce- narios, but must offer more than behavioral modification and empower the Friend to- ward systemic change. Therefore, these tools must work together to address the Five-Fold Reality of Poverty and Brokenness. We call these coaching tools Growth Symbols. Our curriculum offers nine Growth Symbols de- signed to improve decision-making skills, de- crease impulsivity, strengthen personal iden- tity, foster positive self-worth, identify false narratives, increase relational intelligence, en-
systemic change, one friend or family at a time. 3e brings together the best models from various disciplines to tackle the challenge of homelessness. Our model takes into account four areas of influence. 1. Situated LearningTheory: Moving Beyond Information-Based Learning We believe that learning must be more than the transmission of factual knowledge or information. Learning involves participation in practice communities that are situated within authentic activity, context and cultures. The 3e Restoration Process© is grounded in intentional relationships and learning environments where the information offered is demonstrated and practiced in real-life contexts and relationships. Our procedure is guided by the 3e Process House© and led by the Servant-Leader Coordinator (SLC) and includes a network of All-in Friends and 3e coaches. In a learning model, the Friend in Need is encouraged toward self- direction while considering the surrounding relationships, contexts and cultures. This helps the Friend discern how and why actions have consequences in their own life and in the lives of others. A healthy framework for interdependence is constructed and an unhealthy framework of co-dependence or isolationist-independence is deconstructed. This model of learning serves as the basis for goals and expectations in light of the
SynerVision Leadership .org I 13
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker


Change will only come when we decide to take the first step. As social innovators, we must be bold enough to believe in the future we hope to create yet be humble enough to understand that most change happens slowly and, as such, we must remain steadfast. Complex social issues defy simple, straightforward solutions; they demand a deep understanding, our best ideas, a willingness to collaborate, and a long-term commitment. The Bali Immersion experience added an entirely unique and comprehensive layer to my undergraduate education, and I cannot imagine my time at Florida State without it.


This study aimed to determine the efficacy of acupuncture in reducing pruritus intensity, disease severity, and medication use, and improving quality of life.
Methods. This was a patient- and assessor-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Patients diagnosed with atopic dermatitis underwent twice-weekly acupuncture for 12 weeks, with an 8-week follow-up period. Baseline and weekly assessment were done using standard data collection forms and validated assessment tools. Results. Thirty patients were randomized and 28 patients were eligible for the efficacy analysis. There were no significant differences in the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics between the True Acupuncture group (TA) (n=16) and Sham Acupuncture group (SA) (n=12). Both groups showed reduction in mean itch intensity (visual analogue scale, VAS) (p=0.024) but TA showed greater reduction (p=0.009) that was sustained after end of treatment. There was also a reduction in medication use in both groups. The comparable efficacy of SA to TA is attributed to similar peripheral receptive fields and stimulation of cutaneous C-fibers which depletes the neurotransmitters mediating pruritus and results in tachyphylaxis. Mild adverse events, such as petechiae and erythema, were noted in both groups and resolved spontaneously. Conclusion. Acupuncture is a promising adjunct treatment in atopic dermatitis with significant reduction in pruritus, disease severity and medication use and a trend towards improved quality of life.


These are commonly jewelry, precious stones, watches, motor vehicles, boats, art, antiquities and even in some cases high-value designer items such as $25,000+ handbags.
High-value goods have strong financial performance and generate significant value externally. High-value goods and companies may be measured for environmental performance, sourcing policies or their community involvement in terms of social impact.


Are you working out and eating right, but the scale just won't move? Are you gaining weight without changing a thing? Are you frustrated and overwhelmed by the plethora of information there is about dieting? Trying to choose a plan that's right for you isn't always easy. Maybe it's time to consider your lifestyle. At least ten times a day, my patient's say to me "I'm eating right and exercising, but I'm not losing weight" or "I've tried every diet, but I can't seem to keep


NEW YORK – Lung tumors isolated from patients of East Asian ancestry have a less complex genomic architecture than tumors from European patients, a new analysis has found.
Lung adenocarcinoma is a common cancer and leads to more than one million deaths each year. Researchers from A*STAR in Singapore have now characterized the genomic landscape of this cancer among East Asians, generating a genomic and transcriptomic dataset encompassing more than 300 lung cancer patients of Chinese ancestry. As they reported Monday in
Nature Genetics, they found that the tumor genomes were more stable and included fewer genetic alterations than lung adenocarcinoma genomes from European patients. Additionally, comparing transcriptome profiles, they uncovered an inflammation subtype specific to the East Asian patients that could point to a potential new treatment approach.
For their study, the researchers sequenced the exomes and transcriptomes of 213 Chinese lung adenocarcinoma patients from Singapore and combined that dataset with previously published whole-exome sequencing data on 92 Chinese patients from a BGI cohort. By comparing the genomic and transcriptomic data from these 305 individuals to that of 249 lung adenocarcinoma patients of European ancestry from The Cancer Genome Atlas, the researchers uncovered differences in tumor mutational burden and driver genes between the groups.
Overall, East Asian patients' tumors had fewer genomic alterations, with a median tumor mutational burden of 2.04 per Mb, as compared to a median 5.08 per Mb among European patients. While this burden was influenced by patients' smoking status, even among smokers, East Asian patients had a lower median tumor mutational burden than European patients.
At the same time, the number and nature of driver mutations differed between tumors from East Asian and European patients. In East Asian patients, alterations affecting the EGFR, TP53, and KRAS genes were the most common driver mutations and nonsmokers had an average 2.08 driver mutations, as compared to an average 2.65 driver mutations among European nonsmokers. Additionally, East Asian patients had fewer copy number variations.
Together, these findings indicated that lung adenocarcinomas from East Asian patients typically have fewer genomic alterations and less complex genomic profiles than those from European patients.
By analyzing the transcriptomic profiles of the tumor samples, the researchers teased out three different lung cancer subclusters. Two of these were similar to the terminal respiratory unit (TRU) and proximal inflammatory subclusters previously found in European patients, but the third was specific to East Asians. That subcluster, dubbed TRU-I, was marked by the upregulation of inflammation-associated genes and increased immune infiltration. This phenotype could help identify patients who might be more likely to benefit from immunotherapy or immune checkpoint blockade treatment, the researchers wrote.
While they found that patients' clinical features could predict their outcomes, they noted that genomic features could also predict patient survival. These predictions were more accurate for East Asian than European patients, which the researchers attributed to their more stable tumor genomes.
"This study elucidated a comprehensive genomic landscape of EAS [lung adenocarcinomas] and highlighted important ancestry differences between the two cohorts," the researchers wrote in their paper.


Trenching safety: OSHA training institute produces free video
The one-hour video addresses best practices, cave-in protection, resources and other hazards workers encounter in trenching.
“When done safely, trenching operations can reduce worker exposure to other potential hazards, including falls, falling loads, hazardous atmospheres and incidents involving mobile equipment,” the Mid-South OTI Education Center states on its website. “To protect these workers, employers must think about preventing injuries and providing workers with the right equipment for the job.”
Registration is required to access the free video.
According to OSHA, 23 workers died in trench collapses in 2016, exceeding the combined total from 2014 and 2015. The agency has made the issue a priority goal and reminds workers to slope, shore and shield trenches.


ESRD Inflammation & Endotoxemia
According to the United States Renal Data System (USRDS), more than 550,000 individuals suffer from end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which results in approximately 85 million kidney dialysis treatments being administered in the United States each year.
Persistent inflammation is a hallmark feature of ESRD as reflected by the excess production of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which contribute to increased mortality. ESRD inflammation also induces intestinal permeability, which allows endotoxin (gram-negative bacterial toxin) to translocate from the gut and into the bloodstream. Beyond fueling further inflammation, endotoxin is potent activator of sepsis, which can lead to multiple organ failure and death.
Sigyn Therapy establishes a candidate strategy to improve the health and quality-of-life of ESRD patients. Beyond its proven ability to deplete endotoxin, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 from human blood plasma, Sigyn Therapy can be administered in series with regularly scheduled dialysis therapy.


A massive €7 billion in 2021 alone was spent combating online fraud according to the latest research.
E-commerce has boomed recently, especially as the pandemic deepened and with continuing lockdowns, consumers retreated to online retailers. A consequence of this massive expansion of online retailing has also seen a corresponding rise in E-fraud.
To combat this fraud, by 2021 the European commerce sector has invested around €7 billion to detect and prevent fraud in online transactions. As reported by CMSPI based on data from a study it carried out in the sector, along with the increase in the proportion of frauds, the type of frauds in online commerce has also increased.
Some of the most common E-frauds revealed include more sophisticated scams and new ones, such as refund fraud, which is one of the most common scams for omnichannel retailers.
The report also highlights new challenges for the physical and digital retail environments as the two merge: The risk comes when some merchants try to avoid these frauds by removing the digital payment process – something that is often rejected by a significant percentage of legitimate customers because of the inconvenience it can cause them.
According to CMSPI estimates, the global revenue losses caused by this type of fraud could reach $230 billion by 2022, an increase of 6% compared to last year, representing losses 11 times greater than the cost of fraud during the same year.


Symptoms of monkeypox can include:
Fever Headache Muscle aches and backache Swollen lymph nodes Chills Exhaustion A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, fee, chest, genitals, or anus
The rash goes through different stages before healing completely. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks. Sometimes, people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others only experience a rash.


Histamine is a fermented food product that exerts adverse health effects on animals when consumed in high amounts. This biogenic amine is fermented by microorganisms from histidine through the activity of histidine decarboxylase. Drosophila melanogaster can discriminate histidine and histamine using GR22e and IR76b in bitter-sensing gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs). In this study, RNA interference screens were conducted to examine 28 uncharacterized gustatory receptor genes using electrophys...
Vitellogenesis (yolk accumulation) begins upon eclosion and continues through the process of sexual maturation. Upon reaching sexual maturity, vitellogenesis is placed on hold until it is induced again by mating. However, the mechanisms that gate vitellogenesis in response to developmental and reproductive signals remain unclear. Here, we have identified the neu- ropeptide allatostatin-C (AstC)-producing neurons that gate both the initiation of vitello- genesis that occurs post-eclosion and i...
Kohlschu ̈tter-To ̈nz syndrome (KTS) manifests as neurological dysfunctions, including early- onset seizures. Mutations in the citrate transporter SLC13A5 are associated with KTS, yet their underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we report that a Drosophila SLC13A5 homolog, I’m not dead yet (Indy), constitutes a neurometabolic pathway that suppresses seizure. Loss of Indy function in glutamatergic neurons caused “bang-induced” seizure-like behaviors. In fact, glutamate biosynthesi...
BACKGROUND: IR3535 is among the most widely used synthetic insect repellents, particularly for the mitigation of mosquito- borne diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue and Zika, as well as to control flies, ticks, fleas, lice and mites. These insects are well-known vectors of deadly diseases that affect humans, livestock and crops. Moreover, global warming could increase the populations of these vectors. RESULTS: Here, we performed IR3535 dose–response ...
Age-related memory impairment (AMI) occurs in many species, including humans. The underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In wild-type Drosophila (w1118), AMI appears in the form of a decrease in learning (3-min memory) from middle age (30 days after eclosion [DAE]). We performed in vivo, DNA microarray, and behavioral screen studies to identify genes controlling both lifespan and AMI and selected mi- tochondrial Acon1 (mAcon1). mAcon1 expression in the head of w1118 decreased with ag...
C9ORF72-derived dipeptide repeat proteins have emerged as the pathogenic cause of neurodegener- ation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotem- poral dementia (C9-ALS/FTD). However, the mecha- nisms underlying their expression are not fully un- derstood. Here, we demonstrate that ZNF598, the rate-limiting factor for ribosome-associated qual- ity control (RQC), co-translationally titrates the ex- pression of C9ORF72-derived poly(GR) protein. A Drosophila genetic screen identified key RQC...
Metabolism influences locomotor behaviors, but the understanding of neural curcuit control for that is limited. Under standard light-dark cycles, Drosophila exhibits bimodal morning (M) and evening (E) locomotor activities that are controlled by clock neurons. Here, we showed that a high-nutrient diet progressively extended M activity but not E activity. Drosophila tachykinin (DTk) and Tachykinin-like receptor at 86C (TkR86C)-mediated signaling was required for the extension of M activity. DT...


With dark clouds thickening over Feyenoord City, the €1 billion project could theoretically collapse over the ongoing pandemic. Should that happen, there's a new proposal of how the old De Kuip could be reinvented.
Advertisement
On April 9 the public consultation period for
Feyenoord City has concluded. There's no official summary of voices received, but it's clear that there's both support and significant opposition to the scheme proposing Feyenoord's relocation just a few hundred meters north.
While a world-class stadium partly built on water sounds very appealing to some, others would rather see
the iconic and historically-valuable De Kuip used further as a football temple. Also, some of local residents have concerns of their own over what is a €1 billion scheme (of which €444 million would cover the stadium).
© OMA
Formally the project is still ongoing along schedule. That is, along the updated schedule that would see the new stadium delivered in 2025, instead of unfeasible deadlines of 2022, 2023 and 2024. In early May the environmental permit application should be filed for what would only see groundbreaking in 2022.
But now, with the COVID-19 pandemic ongoing, uncertainty over the entire scheme is growing.
Crucially, both Feyenoord and Stadion Feijenoord have already been badly hit by the football and event crisis, both losing their revenue streams within a day.
It remains to be seen how they both weather the storm, but it's already being mentioned that public support might be necessary. Meanwhile, Stadion Feijenoord is already heavily endebted particularly for the development of Feyenoord City.
Plan B surfacing at the right time?
Just as the public consultation period was ending, a fresh and independent vision was launched. Though introduced during the pandemic,
De Moderne Kuip has been under development since mid-2019. It involves a number of high-profile companies like architects Molenaar & Co., West 8, EGM Architecten, ABT, as well as agencies like Octatube and Hypercube. Known as Consortium De Moderne Kuip, the ensemble includes entrepreneurs like Erwin Ekelaar and real estate mogul Aat van Herk.
The scheme in entirely independent from official effort and aims at being an alternative, should the more ambitious plan fall through for any reason and the idea of upgrading De Kuip once more became viable. It's a much cheaper programme than Feyenoord City (stadium cost of €200 million compared to €444 million), which has the advantage of salvaging the iconic De Kuip for football use.
Interestingly, De Moderne Kuip would do to the old stadium what it does to its name: include the historical part within a modern form. Not only the monument-listed grandstands from 1937 would be preserved, but also the roof added in 1994. The cover would be lifted from place and incorporated into a much larger new roof in a unique piece of engineering. Even more, despite the stadium's size not needing it, the free-standing floodlight masts would be retained, albeit being moved further away to make room for expansion.
In order to increase capacity from 51,000 to 63,000, a new third ring of seating would be created on top of the existing auditorium, technically and aesthetically i line with the old steel skeleton. It would be erected on a brand new structure built outside of the existing ground. Expanding outwards means additional room for floor spaces, including HoReCa uses, a total of 70,000 square meters.
Despite very limited ingeration into the historical stands (only part of the lower ring would be replcaed with boxes and lounges), the stadium would still meet international standards in terms of hospitality, offering roughly 10% to business guests (6,250 seats plus private spaces, totalling 6,500 m
2). This could, according to its proponents, provide even greater matchday revenue leap than Feyenoord City despite much lower spending.
De Moderne Kuip is the most advanced De Kuip revamp proposal in terms of masterplanning for the surrounding area, particularly the 'triangle' (15 hectares) in which the stadium sits. It would house numerous new uses, predominantly housing and commerce. Meanwhile, dropping the Feyenoord City project would mean a better position for new bridge across Nieuwe Maas, enabling a tram connection through it and boosting public transport use on matchdays.
Advertisement